Implementation of a Skull-Conformal Phased Array for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Therapy.

Abstract

To implement a skull-conformal phased array for ultrasound-guided transcranial focused ultrasound therapy with improved patient comfort. Using patient-specific computed tomography and MRI neuroimaging data, tightly-conforming helmet scaffolds were designed computationally. The helmet scaffolds were designed to hold reusable transducer modules at near-normal incidence in an optimal configuration for the treatment location(s) of interest. Numerical simulations of trans-skull ultrasound propagation were performed to evaluate different conformal array designs and to compare with hemispherical arrays similar to those employed clinically. A 4096-element phased array was constructed by 3D printing a helmet scaffold optimised for an ex vivo human skullcap, and its performance was evaluated via benchtop and in vivo experiments. Acoustic field measurements confirmed the system's ability to focus through human skull bone using simulation-based transcranial aberration corrections. Preliminary in vivo testing demonstrated safe trans-human skull blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening in rodents. Patient-specific conformal ultrasound phased arrays appear to be a feasible and safe approach for conducting transcranial BBB opening procedures. Skull-conformal phased arrays stand to improve patient comfort and have the potential to accelerate the adoption of transcranial FUS therapy by improving access to the technology.